Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
All I can do is hope she comes back to me. That we have our chance once and for all, to see where life takes us. Together. Not as best friends, but as lovers, and as life partners, and if I’m lucky, husband and wife.
That’s my end goal.
I’ll wait as long as it takes. I’m in for the fight of my life, and I’m ready for battle. I’ve never wanted anything or anyone like I want her. Whatever it takes, I’m ready.
Chapter 4
Reese
Sliding my phone back into my purse, I smile at Tessa. She’s been my savior in all of this. I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t rescued me. Not just at the banquet hall but this morning as well. My dress was shredded, and in no way was I able to wear it. Call me crazy, but I’m not much for walking around fancy hotels in my underwear.
“How did it go?” she asks.
“Like I expected it to go. He’s convinced we’re meant to be together, at least for now. I don’t think all this has sunk in for him yet. He’s upset I won’t tell him where I’m going. Oh, and he loves me,” I say flippantly, but it’s my heart that does the actual flipping each time he says those three little words.
“How does that make you feel?” Tessa asks.
I turn to look at her, and she has the most serious look on her face that has me busting out laughing. “What are you? A therapist?” I laugh.
“Yours, yes. Now, answer the question,” she says, fighting a grin of her own.
“I love him, Tess. I always have, and I know I always will.”
“But?”
“But… this is what he does. He’s never wanted to see me with anyone else. He hated that I was dating Hunter. It had nothing do to with Hunter himself. We all know he’s a great guy. That makes it even worse. I just left him there. Standing in front of our family and friends as I ran with my tail between my legs.”
“I know it seems harsh, but just think about if you would have gone through with it. You didn’t want to marry him, Reese. Doing so under false pretenses would have been worse than leaving him at the altar. Especially since he was waiting for marriage.”
“I know,” I sigh, tilting my head back against the seat and close my eyes. I don’t know how I let things get so screwed up. “It’s not that I didn’t love Hunter,” I say. “It’s that I didn’t love him enough. Not the way I should. You know?” I peek an eye open to find Tess watching me.
“Now boarding Flight 9874 to Mexico,” the announcer calls over the PA system.
“I’m going to call Nix really quick before we board.” I watch as she pulls out her phone and makes the call. It’s short and sweet. She tells him we’re getting ready to board and that she loves him. “Ready?” she asks, sliding her phone back into her purse.
“Yes.”
“Thank God for travel insurance,” she quips, standing and picking up her carry-on. “I’m excited it’s my first time out of the country.”
“Mine too.”
“Are you disappointed that you’re missing Hollywood?” she asks.
“Not even a little bit. That was all Hunter. He wanted to see the Hollywood sign, and shop on Rodeo Drive.”
“It was your honeymoon too, you know?”
“I know. When he brought it up, he was so excited I didn’t have the heart to tell him no.”
“You know what I think?”
“What’s that?” I ask, taking another step forward in the boarding line.
“I think that you knew deep down it’s not what you wanted. I think that Cooper coming to you was the best possible outcome. Regardless of how things turn out for the two of you, I think your decision to walk away was the right one. That’s why you let him make all of the decisions. That wedding wasn’t you, Reese. Not one single factor, other than you being there, had any of you in it. Your heart and soul weren’t into it.”
“Miss,” the attendant calls for my attention. I step forward and hand her my ticket and passport. She does her thing and sends me on through. I step forward and wait on Tessa to join me.
Once we’re in our seats, and our carry-ons are put away overhead, I turn to look at her. “How did I let it all get so out of control, Tess?”
“Do you want me to answer honestly or tell you what’s going to make you feel better?”
“Both?” I say, then immediately reply with, “Honestly.”
“You love him. It’s as simple as that, and by him, I mean Cooper. For years you secretly held onto hope that the two of you would one day be together. You can’t just turn it off, Reese. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t. I think Hunter was… is,” she corrects, “a nice guy. He was safe and comfortable, and he was there when Cooper wasn’t.”